Earth Day is coming to Maple Ridge and the committee behind it wants to show off the creativity of locals as part of the celebration.
Each year, the Earth Day events in Memorial Peace Park include both poetry and photo contests, with prizes being given out to a handful of lucky winners.
In both of these contests, the works must be centred around the theme of the upcoming Earth Day, which this year is “roots”.
“Roots highlights the past and underlying supports in our community and our lives that are not always visible. Who we are today and what we see around us are the branches and ‘leaves’ from seeds previously planted and nurtured. Our community has grown from many different people and ideas and initiatives and actions we may never be fully aware of,” explained the Ridge Meadows Recycling Society, which is one of the organizers of the event.
Anyone wanting to enter the poetry contest can do so by submitting a roots-themed poem, flash fiction, or video.
Entries will be divided into three different categories of kids (10 or younger), youth (11 to 16), and adults (17 and older), with the top three works in each category given an award.
While each person is limited to only entering two works into the poetry contest, anyone in B.C. can submit their work.
Poetry contest submissions must be emailed to earthdaycreative2021@gmail.com by midnight on March 31.
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The photographers out there can submit their best pictures relating to the roots theme for a chance to win one of the top three prizes in either the child, youth, or adult category. Plus, there will be an overall winner announced as well who will get an extra special prize.
All photo entries must be in JPG format and include the photographer’s name and age.
Photographs can be submitted to r.davies@shaw.ca by midnight on March 31.
Once the submission deadline has passed, all of the photos will be posted on the Celebrate Earth Day Facebook page and the public will be able to vote from April 1 to 12 on which ones they like the most, with the pictures that have the highest number of likes being declared the winners.
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The winners of both the poetry and photography contests will be announced at the Celebrate Earth Day event in Maple Ridge, which will take place at Memorial Peace Park from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 20.